Circuit-closing mechanism.



T. w; SMALL. 011101112: CLOSING MECHANISM. APiLIUATIOH FILED I AY 17..1905.

Warsaww.

@gfL/M insulating-spool O and hanger 0 THOMAS SM'ALL'OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,ASSIG'NORROFONE-H'AEF TO GEORGEH. WORTHINGTON AND "'OF OLEVELANDQOHIO.

ONE-HALF TO CHARLES W. JOHNSON,

CIRCUIT-CLOSING MECHANISM.

To d/M whomitmwy concern.

Be it-known that I,,'-THOMAS1W. SMALL, a citizen vof the .U-nitedStates, residing. ;at Cleveland, inthe county of Cuyahoga and State ofOhio,"have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in CircuitOlosing Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription; reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of the invention which forms the subject of this ap licationis to provide means for closing a ocal circuit automat- ,ically.

The mechanism shown is particularly ap plicable for closing localcircuits on electric cars in which the closing is effected by means ofattachments in the path of the trolley. A practical application of mydevice is that of closing local circuits in street-cars for the purposeof actuating street-indicating or sign mechanism, carried by the car.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents inperspective a form of my device attached to the supporting crosswireinan overhead-trolley system, showing the position of the partsimmediately after the trolley-wheel has passed the circuit-closer. Fig.2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. I

In the various figures, A represents the current-wire supported by thetransverse crosswire B and connected'therewith by the usual Embracingthe neck of the spool O and beneath the transverse wire B is ayoke-shaped plate D. Above the plate D and the wire B and likewiseengaging the neck of the spool C is a second yoke-shaped plateE, securedby suitable means, such as bolts F, to the plate D. The legs of thesetwo plates D and E are projected in opposite directions, and'thisarrangement produces a very firm and rigid attachment. I

The plate E is made of some suitable conducting material and haspivotally secured to its legs E E conducting contact-shoes E EThese'cont'act-shoes are preferably provided near their free ends withguides E E, which play in suitable openings in the plates D and E andare rovided at their upper ends with stops E imiting their downwardmovement. About the guides E and between the shoes E and the plate D areI Specification of Iietters Patent. Application filed ,May 1'7. 1905.Serial N 0. 260,773.

- Patented De as, 1906.

compression-springs 'EPE for the purpose of pressing the shoesdownward,so as to effect a firm contact with the: terminal piecesof the localcircuit, which arei-nthe instance shown supported by the trolley-harp,;as will behereinafter described.- I

Referring"to"Figs.. -1 and 2, Hrepresents the ordinary trolley-pole,surmounted by the trolley-harp H H, carrying the usual trolley-wheel HAt the tips of the harp-prongs and insulated therefrom by suitableinsulation H are the terminal pieces H H of the wires J and Jrespectively, which lead to a local source within the car. These wires Jand J 2 are suitably insulated and may be led down the interior of thetrolley-pole or suitably secured about the same in any convenientmanner. a

From the description above the operation of the device will be obvious.Whenever the car passes under the circuit-closing device the terminals HH will pass under the shoes E E and elevate them somewhat. During thisperiod the shoes are kept in firm contact with the terminals by thepressure of the springs E While this contact is maintained the circuitfrom the source of the wires J J will be closed through the terminals HH, the shoes E E and the conducting-yoke E E E.

By the foregoing means it will be seen that I have provided a simple andpractical device whereby mechanism, such as streetindicating devices,carried within. the car may be actuated automatically from the exterior.For this and many similar signaling purposes ,my structure is welladapted, as will be apparent on inspection.

It will be understood that many modifications of design and substitutionof mechan ical equivalents may be made according to the particularnecessities of the situation withoutdeparting from the spirit of myinvention or altering the character thereof.

- Having described my invention, I claim 1. In mechanism forestablishing a local circuit through a moving vehicle, a circuitclosingdevice, attached near but insulated from the main-current wire, saiddevice including a metallic frame and a pair of contact members inelectrical contact therewith, and a trolley-pole carrying insulatedterminals of the local circuit in such manner as to make contact withthe circuit-closing device.

2. In mechanism for establishing a local circuit through a movingvehicle, a conducting-plate adapted to straddle the neck of an ordinarysupporting-spool, a second plate adapted to likewise straddle saidspool, and securing means adapted to hold these plates together whenplaced astride said spool in opposite directions.

3. In mechanism for establishing a local circuit through a movingvehicle, a circuitclosing plate provided with a yielding contact prongand a supporting-plate so constructed that the parts may be securelyattached to the insulating-spool supporting a main-current wire.

4. In mechanism for establishing a local circuit through a movingvehicle, a circuitclosing strip attached to a suitable support in thepath of a trolley-pole and carr 'ng contacts placed in the path of thetro leyharp, terminal ieces on the trolley-har adapted to brusl iagainst the contacts an ilzlvires attached to the terminals on thetrolleyar 5? In a mechanism for establishin a local circuit through amoving vehicle, tie combination of a U-shaped plate, a pair of curvedcontact-bars pivoted to the plate at its rojectin ends, bolts looselyholding the ars near t eir free ends to said plate, and springs undercompression surrounding said bolts.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

T. W. SMALL.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. BATES, W. L. MCGARRELL.

